Freelance Director, Out of Home

Canvas Worldwide dares to be the challenger the ad industry needs. Do you "Challenge the Comfortable?" Then you'll fit right in here at Canvas.

Recognized as one of Ad Age's "Best Places to Work" for three consecutive years, Canvas Worldwide is an independent media agency committed to providing creative solutions for brands that challenge the status quo. Our clients include Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, MGM, Zillow and McDonald’s (to name a few…).

Our agency cultivates an environment where all are welcome to push outside their comfort zones to solve problems in new ways. We encourage the team to be its best by creating the most positive workplace experience for all. For instance, we outpace the industry on diversity and inclusion AND offer continuous training and workshops for career development. So, if you dare to challenge the comfortable… then keep reading.

The Role

As a Freelance Director on the Out of Home (OOH) team your core responsibility is to autonomously manage 

assigned clients ensuring business needs are being met while simultaneously supporting

department and agencywide initiatives. Serve as support to the senior members of the team on 

department or companywide initiatives, able to function independently or collaboratively, as 

required. Ability to set and achieve both short-term and long-term goals (internally, to service the 

agency as well as externally, to service the clients). 

Key Duties/Responsibilities & Desired Knowledge Base:

• Function independently, including management of direct reports and assigned teams within 

the department with little to no guidance while maintaining a high quality of work

• Act as role model and mentor to all juniors within the department, helping them to grow 

professionally and navigate the OOH and media industry as a whole 

• Level-set fair expectations of the teams/individuals and hold them accountable 

• Consistently seek out and encourage/assign relevant opportunities for juniors to grow 

professionally (ex. training courses) 

• Inspire creativity within the department, encourage direct reports to “Challenge the 

Comfortable” while ensuring a sound understanding of business/business objectives 

remains the north star for decisions 

• Promote and incorporate strategies/practices that align with larger department and/or 

agency goals

• Guide the team in strategy development at a high level; ensure planning tactics and decisions

align with arching strategic direction of business as well as larger media campaigns 

• Support teams as needed in their management of planning efforts, ensuing deadlines are 

being meet and the quality of work is to department standards 

• Oversee and assist teams in building client ready decks/slides to articulate OOH

plans/recommendations

• Participate in strategy development and brainstorming meetings with ability to work 

harmoniously with internal teams on projects from start to finish and ensure teams grasp 

full understanding of this to drive actionable next steps 

• Demonstrate strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities

o Oversee and advise on negotiations throughout planning and make-good scenarios 

o Advise team of proactive approaches to trouble shooting

o Ensure team arrives at fair and meaningful results/solutions 

o Ability to maintain professionalism during challenging conversations, deescalating 

and managing frustrations within the team, if necessary 

• Expert understanding of media terms, concepts, and strategy (KPI, ROI, CPM, R/F)

• Maintain a positive attitude that motivates the team to remain focused/solution oriented in 

achieving desired results against tight deadlines/changing direction/feedback, etc. 

• Ability to recognize appropriate new opportunities, need for 101’s or other documents and 

motivate self/team to compile and present as is relevant and in a timely manner 

• Collaborate to compile and present POV’s and evaluations as needed; rooted in sound 

research and presented with strong supportive context/rationale that is client specific 

• In depth knowledge of OOH industry partners: Geopath & OAAA 

• Stay current on new/ evolving trends within the media landscape (OOH and media overall)

and educating the team accordingly 

• Participate in department/agency wide projects including new business pitches 

• Attend Industry and client-related functions and networking events, when necessary, while 

simultaneously balancing workload/deadlines

• Participate in/attend meetings/trainings and/or market rides as needed 

Qualifications/Skills: 

• Characteristics: 

o Innate curiosity with a desire to learn and grow as an OOH/media professional 

o Aptitude for critical thinking and problem solving 

o Self-starter who approaches workload with a positive attitude 

o Proactive (vs reactive) approach to projects/workload as well as overall 

management of the business and direct reports 

o Strong communication and presentation skills (written & verbal) 

o Acute attention to detail 

o Highly organized, including time management (of self and team)

• Competencies:

o Multitask across numerous projects/accounts simultaneously under tight deadlines and 

prioritize/ adjust direction based on feedback as needed while remaining positive

▪ Motivate team, primarily direct reports, to do the same

o Prioritize and reprioritize accordingly to meet tight and/or changing deadlines under 

pressure, while remaining positive

o Effectively and fairly delegate workload

o Synthesize large volumes of information quickly 

▪ With the ability to accurately and effectively communicate it out

o Advocate for OOH (internally, externally) 

o Proficient in math including ability to interpret, analyze and synthesize research

o Capacity to have difficult conversations as needed, while remaining constructive and 

solution oriented (vendors, direct reports)

• Interpersonal: 

o Build, foster and maintain strong relationships (internal/external) 

o Collaborative team player (can work independently & as part of a matrix structure) 

o Receptive to feedback and able to apply moving forward 

o Manage up/down appropriately 

o Effectively and fairly delegate workload

o Act as a role model to direct reports and junior staff within the agency

Experience & Education: 

Years of professional experience: 9+ 

• Bachelor’s or Associates Degree is highly preferred but not required 

• Experience buying and planning (not just one), preferably within OOH

• Experience training and/or managing multiple direct reports and/or teams 

• Experience managing different types of categories as well as multiple categories at one time 

• Fluent in: Microsoft (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams

Actual base salary is determined upon factors such as experience, qualifications, training, certifications, and internal equity. The Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Base salary is part of a total rewards package that includes highly competitive benefits like generous medical, dental, vision, pet insurance, commuter benefits, disability and life insurance coverage, 401(k) matching, up to 14 holidays per year, a “Do Good Day,” and unlimited PTO.

Additional perks include employee social and wellness events, a DEI Council, auto purchase rebate program, monthly wellness allowance, and in-office amenities such as fresh kombucha and an in-house barista inside our beautiful, new vibrant El Segundo office.

Canvas Worldwide is an Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

CA Applicants: Canvas Worldwide practices Fair Chance Hiring